Brazil's first lady ‘upset President Xi's wife' by chiding TikTok
State banquets are driven by protocol and nowhere more so than in Beijing. So the wife of Brazil's President Lula maybe ought to have known that an impromptu speech over the evils of social media might set the cat among the pigeons.
Her well-meaning attempt to bring up the issue of children addicted to TikTok received a frosty response from her Chinese opposite number, Xi's wife Peng Liyuan, it was later reported. A Chinese minister was also said to have been upset.
The controversy has now moved from China to Brazilian politics, where attention has focused on how the story was made known to newspapers. The chief suspect is Rui Costa, chief of staff to President Lula, who was present and whose wider role as
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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Prince William calls for urgent action to save world's oceans ‘diminishing before our eyes'
Prince William has issued an impassioned call for 'immediate action' to save the world's oceans, warning that ecosystems vital for humanity's survival are 'diminishing before our eyes'. Stressing that 'healthy oceans are essential to all life on Earth', the Prince of Wales warned that 'we all stand to be impacted' by the destruction of ocean life. In a speech to heads of state and other delegates at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco, the future monarch insisted that – despite the threat presenting a challenge like none humanity has faced before – there 'remains time to turn this tide'. But he warned that the 'clock is ticking', with bold action needed 'to protect and restore our planet'. William addressed Sunday's forum in his role as founder of the Earthshot Prize, launched by the prince in 2020 with the aim of taking steps to tackle environmental problems within a decade. World leaders were greeted by a blue carpet as they arrived at the event, with William meeting French president Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and Costa Rica's president Rodrigo Chaves Robles. The oceans generate half the world's oxygen, regulate the climate, and provide food for more than three billion people, William noted in his speech, which came ahead of the UN Ocean Conference, which begins in France on Monday. But he warned: 'Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems, and on the people and communities who depend most upon them. What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes. 'We all stand to be impacted, and we are all responsible for change, both negative and positive.' The heir to the British throne hailed the target agreed at the UN Biodiversity Summit in 2022 aiming to protect at least 30 per cent of the world's land and sea by 2030 as 'our best chance at reversing the damage done to our planet and restoring its wellbeing'. 'But the clock is ticking,' he said. '2030 is fast approaching, and only 17 per cent of land and just 3 per cent of the ocean has been fully protected. If we are to reach our goal, we urgently need to take bold action to protect and restore our planet. 'This challenge is like none we have faced before. But I remain an optimist. I believe that urgency and optimism have the power to bring about the action needed to change the course of history.' Having filmed a conversation with Sir David Attenborough last month at the Royal Festival Hall, he praised the 99-year-old's new documentary Oceans – released on Sunday – as making 'the most compelling argument for immediate action that I have ever seen'. He added: 'Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to barren deserts at the base of our oceans is simply heartbreaking. For many, it is an urgent wake-up call to just what is going on in our oceans. But it can no longer be a matter of 'out of sight, out of mind'. The need to act to protect our ocean is now in full view.' 'The ocean is under enormous threat, but it can revive itself. But only if we act now,' said the prince. On Saturday, William's office released a clip from his recent conversation with Sir David, in which the veteran broadcaster tells him: 'The thing which I am appalled by, when I first saw the shots that were taken for this film are what we have done to the deep ocean floor. 'If you did anything remotely like it on land, everybody would be up in arms.' Referring to the words of Sir David in his closing remarks, William told the auditorium of 1,800 people on Sunday: 'Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions. 'Let us act together with urgency and optimism while we still have the chance. For the future of our planet, for the future generations, we must listen to the words of Sir David Attenborough: 'If we save the sea, we save our world.''
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Woke school program turns beloved children's character trans and warns of racist babies
A woke school program turned a beloved children's character transgender and warned teachers of racist babies, according to a new report. Head Start, a federally-funded educational program for children aged three-five, held webinars that said infants 'discriminate between faces by race' and that 'babies can categorize people by gender or race,' according to a Functional Government Initiative (FGI) report. A series of 2020 webinars, focused on 'anti-bias and anti-racism strategies,' were distributed to teachers, parents and children and specifically claimed that babies can start to 'discriminate' at three months. At six months, babies can classify people by race and gender before they use racial categories to reason about others' and 'may use race to choose playmates' as a toddler, the presentation, reviewed by FGI, said. By age five, 'some children express preference for their own race' and have learned 'many of the same racial attitudes as adults' by the time they go to kindergarten, it found. The national program, run by Dr. Deborah Bergeron at the time, also proposed that children's activities need to become 'more inclusive,' including the traditional nursery rhyme Old MacDonald Had a Farm. Instead of the jingle's classic 'Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he had a pig,' Head Start switched the famous lyric to: 'Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O. And on that farm he/she/they had a pig,' one webinar shared. Head Start also pushed transgender ideology by referring to pregnant women as 'pregnant people' or 'birthing parents,' according to the program's social media posts, the report found. The report, titled 'Head State Needs a Restart,' noted that the goal of the program was 'started with the laudable goal of free early childhood education and health services to struggling children and families,' but has since 'used taxpayer dollars on priorities well outside of its original purpose.' 'Sadly, Head Start has fallen victim to the same politicization that many government programs have also fallen to in recent years, according to documents analyzed by FGI,' the report read. 'Head Start not only embraced the controversial ideology of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), they pushed it on parents, teachers, educators… and children.' Another webinar, reviewed by FGI, found that Head Start prompted questions to consider when discussing books, including how characters are 'represented.' A separate presentation went over 'Personally-Mediated Racism in Early Education,' and featured what appeared to be a growth chart of children with the phrase 'They're not too young to talk about race!' above. Another slide read: 'Advocated that 'all Head Start policies AND funding' should be applied through a 'racial equity lens".' Yet another slide dealt with exactly how teachers can go about talking to their young students about race, stating: 'We can start talking about race even if we don't have all the answers... 'But if we commit to collectively trying to talk about race with young children, we can lean on one another for support as we, together, envision a world where actively challenged racism each and every day,' the quote, provided by read on a slide. The government program also encouraged educators to read about critical race theory, including Nikole Hannah-Jones' 1619 Project and 'How to be Antiracist' by Ibram X Kendi. Meanwhile, in September 2022, Head Start and Sesame Street got together to push for 'racial justice' in children's education. For this, Sesame Street featured new characters, including ones that encouraged 'black pride' and 'black joy' among kids. Head Start not only has several DEI-based initiatives going for them, but also runs the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation that supports illegal migrants in getting an education. The group also offers assistance with applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which was created when former President Barack Obama was in office. Head Start, which is now directed by Tala Hooban, was initially launched in 1965 as a way to offer educational and 'high-quality services in safe and healthy settings that prepare children for school and life' to families in need. Program benefits are dispersed across the country by partner organizations, including non-profits, school districts, and faith-based organizations. Through all of these, Head Start programs provide nutritional support, medical assistance and education.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Student arrested by ICE has been released
A high school volleyball player who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on his way to a practice has been released on bond. Marcelo Gomes da Silva, 18, had been held at a Burlington, Massachusetts detention facility since his arrest Saturday morning, after he was pulled over in a car with his teammates. The teenager, who was born in Brazil, then appeared in court for a hearing on Thursday, when a judge ruled that he could be released on a $2,000 bond. Attorneys for the government did not make any arguments, according to WCVB. Yet the teenager could still be deported, as those proceedings move forward in the federal court system while his attorneys seek his asylum. Speaking to reporters following his release, Gomes da Silva shared how he was carpooling to volleyball practice in Milford when he was stopped by police, and told to hand over his license and registration. The officer, the teen said, 'gave no reason to stop me,' but was then informed that he was in the country illegally. The news shocked the teenager, who said he came to the United States when he was just six years old and did not know he was living on a visitor visa and then a student visa that has since lapped. Gomas da Silva then spent six days at the Burlington ICE facility, sleeping on a cement floor and sharing an open toilet with nearly 40 other adult men. 'I haven't showered in six days. I haven't done anything. The only thing I could do is thank God every day, because that's all I would do, I would pray there,' the high schooler said, noting that he would also preach the Bible to the other migrants. But even that proved to be difficult, as his lawyer says officers initially refused to provide him with a Bible - which Gomes da Silva said was outrageous given that he has recited the Pledge of Allegiance in school every day. He was also not allowed to watch television or hear the news, as his friends and colleagues rallied for his freedom outside. 'At the end of the day, this is not a good place to be,' Gomes da Silva said of the detention center. 'No one deserves to be held down there. Most people down there are all workers, they all got caught going to work,' he claimed, noting that he served as a translator for many of his fellow detainees because he speaks fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese. 'These people have families, man, like they have kids to go home to - and there's genuine criminals out there that people aren't giving attention to. They're getting good people that don't deserve to be there.' The teen says he now wants to help those who are still at the facility, noting that his father - who is also facing deportation 'always told me to be humble.' First, though, Gomes da Silva said he is just excited to see his dog and his siblings again as he posted a selfie to Instagram writing: 'Six days no shower. You all mean the world to me. 'Jesus Christ #1,' he added. News of Gomes da Silva's arrest earlier this week set off a frenzy within his community, as community members argued that the high school athlete is innocent. They described him to the Boston Globe as a well-known honors student, ace drummer and varsity volleyball player who sometimes coached the girls' team. 'He hasn't [done] anything wrong. There's not one bad bone in his body that has done anything evil,' his friend Mary Buckley told WCVB. 'Trump said he was going to get rid of immigrants - immigrants that were criminals. Marcelo is the opposite of criminal. He's done nothing wrong. His family has done nothing wrong,' she claimed. ICE officials have since claimed that they were searching for his father, Joao Paulo Gomes-Pereira, who is wanted for driving over 100mph in a residential zone - but Gomes da Silva's attorneys have called that into question. 'It sounds very targeted, they knew what they were doing - it wasn't like they were just looking for dad, he got confused, it sounds like they were doing some sort of rounds,' attorney Robin Nice told NBC Boston. 'And it also sounds like they followed him from his house to his friend's house, where they blocked him in the driveway,' Gomes da Silva's other attorney Miriam Conrad added. 'So presumably if they were watching the house, they would have seen him come out and they would have known he was an 18-year-old kid with braces on his teeth, not his father. So the whole thing is just very odd.' Concerned by the reports of the teen's arrest, Democratic Congressmen Seth Moulton and Jake Auchincloss said they returned to their home state 'to try to understand what the hell is going on. 'We support securing our border, we support following the law. But this administration is breaking the law,' Moulton claimed. 'This administration is not keeping us safe by putting 18-year-old honors students in prison.' Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey echoed that sentiment in a statement. 'This has been such a traumatic time for this community and I hope that they find some solace in knowing that the rule of law and due process still prevail,' she said. 'Marcelo never should have been arrested or detained, and it certainly did not make us safer,' she continued. 'It's not OK that students across the state are fearful of going to school or sports practice and that parents have to question whether their children will come home at the end of the day. 'In Massachusetts, we are going to keep speaking out for what's right and supporting one another in our communities,' the governor vowed. Meanwhile, Gomes da Silva has filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court in Boston arguing that the federal government violated his due process rights by arresting him without cause or explanation. has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.
